Challenging the media representation of menstruation.

Welcome to #Periodpositive!

Here, Chella Quint, menstruation education researcher and the creator of Adventures in Menstruating shares news and resources from her menstruation education research project. Follow @chellaquint and @periodpositive for updates on school and workshop resources and training opportunities.

Take the short (really short – only two questions) survey and think about how #periodpositive you are day to day!

What does period positive mean?

Chella developed #PeriodPositive to counteract the mainly negative public discourse. She accepts that people both love and hate periods, but tries to unpick how big an influence the media plays in these attitudes. She aims for ‘period neutral’, using a positive approach.

If you are period positive, this means you are willing to confidently ask and/or frankly answer questions about periods, understand the importance for menstruators to chart their cycle and treat it as a vital sign, avoid passing on shame to others, and if you joke about it, that you make sure menstruators aren’t the butt of the joke.

Supported more comprehensively across the curriculum, particularly in Science and PSHE

Aimed at different age groups, starting well before puberty (and ensuring to use the correct names for body parts, even with young children) and revisited regularly

Inclusive of different genders, cultures, abilities and sexualities (the way all high quality SRE should be)

Chella was the Sheffield International Documentary Festival Specialist Factual New Talent Pitch winner for 2013. Here is a short film she presented for the Open University about the effects of advertising on the menstrual discourse: Lifting the Lid. She is coordinating the UK participants in the global Menstrual Hygiene Day events on 28th May.